Omaha daily bee., 1887-01-19
Prospects OF the Interstate Com
merNa Bill.


The refusal of the house of representa-
tives on Monday to take mp the inter-
state commerce bill to the exclusion OF
all other legislation has been taken
in some quarters as n straw which
points to the defeat of that measure in
the house or It's indefinite postponement
to die with the session. AS matter of
fact many of tae members who voted
against the resolution were in favor of the
bill and voted for its consideration yes
terday when the matter was again
brought up. They knew that as bill re-
ported from the conference committee it
had precedence over all other legislation
and could be taken up at any time on q
mere majority vote.
The thorough discussion of the inter
state commerce bilfthrough the press and
the senate has done much TO enlghten the
public and congress, and to brush away
the mists with which the arguments of
the railroad attorneys had enveloped
its provisions. Most of the opposi-
ton to the measure finally CEN
tered upon the fourth and fifth sections,
the first of which related to long and
short haul charges. and the other to the
prohibition of pooling contracts. Debate
on both these sections has been full and
exhaustive, with the result of relieving
the public mind of the fear that their
passage would irretrievably damage the
interests of the people. IL was shown con-
cluslvely that the long and short haul sec
ton would not prevent the low charges
1, ;nl,
build up the west by facilitating exports,
neither would it compel reduction of
local rates. The prohibition complained
of would simply prevent unjust discrim
nation between localities through a
higher charge for shorter than for a
longer distance on the same line where
there was no justifying difference in the
circumstances and conditions under
which the traffic was carried on" In
other words the proviso was so elastic
and the qualifications SO applicable to
any condition which might arise that
only generally admitted wrong was for
bidden and every facility for the trans
action of business to the mutual benefit
of the producer and the transportation
agent was left intact.
The section prohibiting pooling con-
tracts has been assailed as removing the
only safe method for securing uniformity
of rates. 1t does nothing Of the kind.
There is nothing in it which forblds COM
petng roads to establish and maintain
uniform rates. 1t simply forbids pools
and division of profits rs ascertained
through such compacts. The roads are
left entirely free to agree upon common
schedules of rates upon their competitive
business and to adhere to them if they
see fit. The bill strikes down pools
because pooling strikes down ali
legitimate competitions and apportlons
and divides the traffic with no regard to
the wishes of the public or the ordinary
usages of trade. If the interstate COM
merce bill is accepted in good faith by
the railroads there ought to be no neces-
sity for pooling to prevent secret rate
cutting and rebates, which pooling is as.
sumed to prevent. A government COM
mission will supervise the operations OF
the roads. Full schedule rates will be
published. Secret rates, rebates and dis
ordinations to secure business and assail
rival corporations will be made crimes
under the law. The very evils which
pools are said to be maintained to remedy
will be remedied by means outside OF the
managers offices.